More people have been arrested after a police operation to disrupt potential rioters in Carlisle.
Plans were circulating on social media for people to gather in the city to protest yesterday, Wednesday, August 7, many posted on right wing accounts.
It gave them the authority to remove face coverings intended to disguise or conceal a person’s appearance.
Officers also had the power to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.
The order was in place until midnight. Several businesses in the city closed for safety reasons.
A 16-year-old boy from Penrith was arrested on suspicion of breach of a dispersal order.
A 41-year-old man from Carlisle was arrested in connection with the alleged posting online of content encouraging violence against police officers and promoting public disorder.
He is due to appear in court today, Thursday August 8.
A 40-year-old man from Carlisle. He was arrested in connection with the alleged posting of hate-related content online.
In an update, police said a 31-year-old man from Maryport was also arrested in connection with the alleged posting of hate-related content online.
Cumbria police added that as officers carried out enquires throughout the city, they made a further two arrests. An 18-year-old man, from Carlisle, was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis whilst a 33-year-old man from Sunderland was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
The five men remain in custody.
Chief Superintendent Carl Patrick, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “Our officers have been out across Carlisle today to keep our communities safe from potential planned disorder.
“Our proactive actions and the support of our communities have resulted in no significant disorder taking place.
“We took positive action into reports of online activity which attempted to incite violence and hatred. This sends a very clear message that we will not hesitate to act against those who post such content online.
“Criminality of any kind will not be tolerated in our county, and we will do all we can to ensure offenders are brought to justice. We are not complacent and we will continue to carry out this proactive policing approach.”
t is understood across the UK, police were braced for more than 100 protests across the country last and counter-protests following riots across the UK and Ireland in response to the killing of three girls in Southport.
A list and calls to mask up are believed to have been widely circulated on social media over recent days for far-right demonstrations.
Several rallies across the UK were thwarted by counter protests.
